Deanna D. Panico

Since joining Bee Ready Fishbein Hatter & Donovan, LLP in 2012, Ms. Panico has practiced primarily in employment law and has been involved in proceedings before both federal and state courts, including the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and administrative agencies. Ms. Panico has successfully defended private and public employers in employment discrimination and retaliation cases involving claims under various civil rights statutes. Ms. Panico has obtained dismissal of employee claims of race, color, gender, national origin, age, disability, and religious discrimination, harassment, and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL). Ms. Panico has also successfully defended municipal employers with respect to whistleblower claims and constitutional claims, such as equal protection, due process, free speech and retaliation under the First Amendment, and class-of-one claims brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ยง 1983.

Ms. Panico has successfully obtained dismissal of wage and hour claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the New York Labor Law. Ms. Panico has successfully defended collective action and class action lawsuits brought under those same statutes.

In addition to litigation, Ms. Panico also serves as counsel for public and private sector employers by advising those employers on general day-to-day employment issues, including compliance with various state and federal laws affecting the workplace, including Title VII, the Equal Pay Act (EPA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), and related local laws.